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For the first time since training camp, Edmonton Eskimos slotback Fred Stamps fully participated in practice for the second consecutive day.

And his increased involvement on Wednesday couldn’t be coming at a better time for a team that sees him as their go-to guy, even if he isn’t 100% healthy.

Of course, even at 80%, Stamps has shown he can hold his own with the best of them.

“Obviously, given the standing he has as one of our top playmakers, we would love to have him back,” said head coach Kavis Reed. “Our medical staff has done a tremendous job of working Fred back to the point that he is.

“Now, it’s up to us (coaches) that we take care of him in practice, but get enough out of him that his cardio is back and his timing’s back.”

With a team-leading 150 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches, Stamps played a game before he ever practised in the regular season, due a lower-leg injury in training camp.

But last week, he was kept out of the game for the first time in order to give him more of a chance to heal up.

“It was very pleasing to see Fred out,” Reed said. “He not only took all the offensive reps, he took a lot of the scout-team reps, which is a very good indication that he’s ready and we’re very hopeful that there are no setbacks … and we can just declare that he’s ready to go.”

Stamps wasn’t exactly going through the motions either, appearing more and more like the all-star slotback of old as practice went on and completions to him went deeper and deeper.

Whether that will translate into his return to the lineup on game day or not is yet to be determined.

“(Thursday) is the big day,” Reed said. “We’re hopeful there are no setbacks and I anticipate he will be with us.”

Which is good news for the new guy, who has already made the veteran receiver his favourite target on the season, despite playing just two games together so far.

“Freddy, any time he’s in your lineup, that makes your offence better right away,” said quarterback Mike Reilly. “So that’s a big help, but at the same time, it can’t just be the Freddy show. If that’s the case, we’re not going to win.

“He’s going to definitely boost our offence, but it should just help to pick up the play of all of the rest of us, too.”

For the second day in a row, Fred Stamps takes part in Edmonton Eskimos practice

For the first time since training camp, Edmonton Eskimos slotback Fred Stamps fully participated in practice for the second consecutive day.

And his increased involvement on Wednesday couldn’t be coming at a better time for a team that sees him as their go-to guy, even if he isn’t 100% healthy.

Of course, even at 80%, Stamps has shown he can hold his own with the best of them.

“Obviously, given the standing he has as one of our top playmakers, we would love to have him back,” said head coach Kavis Reed. “Our medical staff has done a tremendous job of working Fred back to the point that he is.

“Now, it’s up to us (coaches) that we take care of him in practice, but get enough out of him that his cardio is back and his timing’s back.”

With a team-leading 150 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches, Stamps played a game before he ever practised in the regular season, due a lower-leg injury in training camp.